Intervertebral prosthesis

a technology for intervertebral prosthesis and prosthesis, which is applied in the field of intervertebral prosthesis, can solve the problems of multiple pains of greater or lesser intensity, more or less severe handicaps, and disk damage, and achieve the effect of conserving structural simplicity and ease of implantation

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-08-26
POINTILLART VINCENT DR +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention seeks to remedy the drawbacks of conventional prostheses and to constitute a prosthesis that is complementary to the prostheses described in the above-mentioned document while conserving the structural simplicity and ease of implantation thereof.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017]the portion of the cushion that is left intact between the notches is of small dimensions, thereby considerably limiting the stresses that can be transmitted between the vertebrae during relative movements while nevertheless ensuring cohesion at least in compression of the cushion; and
[0019]In addition, the wedge-shape of the structure makes it possible to restore the curvature to the spine that is generally degraded by disk degeneration.
[0021]According to an embodiment feature, each notch is defined by diverging faces such that the area of contact involved in the cushion depends on the extent to which it is flattened, and thus on the position and the load between the two vertebrae in question. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the front notch possesses, between its opening (its edges) and its bottom, two facing faces that define portions in relief that are interleaved. These portions in relief are interpenetrating teeth or interleaved bristles or spikes. This increases the amount of co-operating surface area and its variability as a function of criteria concerning the position and the load on the vertebrae. This particular configuration also makes it possible to have means for acting on more than the quantity of the contacting area since the portions concerned of the cushion have thickness, given the greater or lesser interleaving of the portions in relief while the prosthesis is in use. The properties that can be involved are the properties of a layer of material on either side of the notch and these properties are variable as a function of the degree of interleaving.

Problems solved by technology

The disk can become damaged over time, as a result of effort, or of certain degenerative diseases, and that can give rise to the disk collapsing and / or to it functioning poorly.
This can lead to various types of pathology, causing multiple pains of greater or lesser intensity and more or less severe handicaps.
Several types of prosthesis have been proposed for replacing intervertebral disks, but they are only partially satisfactory.
However in said mobility they impose particular dynamics that are not compatible with, or only partially compatible with the natural relative mobility between two vertebrae.
This non-physiological mobility can give rise to undesirable clinical consequences.
It can even be feared that there is a risk of a component migrating or of the prosthetic joint dislocating.
In addition, most known prostheses are unsuitable for restoring normal cervical or lumbar curvature.
Furthermore, known prostheses are not adapted to absorbing impacts.
A consequence of this inability, associated with the conflict between the natural dynamics and the dynamics of the joint, can lead to premature wear both of natural elements and of prosthetic elements, thereby running the risk of degrading the clinical state of the patient.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0026]Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section view of a prosthesis of the invention placed between two cervical vertebrae;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a likewise diagrammatic, exploded view of the prosthesis;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a view of the FIG. 2 prosthesis when closed and held compressed by a breakable tie;

[0030]FIGS. 4 to 6 are antero-posterior section views of three variant embodiments of the deformable cushion used in the prosthesis of the invention;

[0031]FIG. 7 is a section view on VII-VII of FIG. 4;

[0032]FIG. 8 is an outside view of a lumbar intervertebral half-prosthesis; and

[0033]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the implant between two lumbar vertebral bodies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034]FIG. 1 shows two successive cervical vertebrae 1 and 2, each having a vertebral body 1a and 2a, and a posterior joint surface 3. Between the vertebral bodies, there is shown diagrammatically a prosthesis 4 that comprises two end plates 5 and ...

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Abstract

An intervertebral disk prosthesis, having a rigid top plate, a rigid bottom plate, and an elastically deformable intermediate cushion housed between the two inner surfaces of the plates. The cushion, at rest, possesses a wedge-shape possessing at least one front notch open into the larger end of the wedge and one rear notch open into the narrower end. The faces of the notches co-operate by contact over an area of magnitude that varies as a function of the intensity and / or direction of the load to which the prosthesis is subjected. The bottoms of the notches are spaced apart from each other and situated in the narrower half of the prosthesis.

Description

[0001]The invention relates to an intervertebral disk prosthesis for replacing in full or in part the natural disk that interconnects two vertebrae of the vertebral column, and regardless of which portion of the spine is concerned.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Each intervertebral disk of the vertebral column is constituted by a central element referred to as the nucleus pulposus that is enclosed in a roll of fibers referred to as the annulus. The disk interconnects two vertebral bodies and it controls movement of the vertebral column in flexing, inclination, and rotation. The disk can become damaged over time, as a result of effort, or of certain degenerative diseases, and that can give rise to the disk collapsing and / or to it functioning poorly. This can lead to various types of pathology, causing multiple pains of greater or lesser intensity and more or less severe handicaps.[0003]This type of affection is treated by removing the unhealthy disk and replacing it either by an ele...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61F2/44
CPCA61F2/30742A61F2/441A61F2/442A61F2002/30153A61F2002/30462A61F2250/0008A61F2002/30563A61F2002/30594A61F2002/448A61F2220/0075A61F2230/0019A61F2002/30553
InventorPOINTILLART, VINCENTASSAKER, RICHARD
OwnerPOINTILLART VINCENT DR